Hash, two others face indictments in pot raid

SoVaNow.com / September 22, 2010

A Mecklenburg County Grand Jury on Monday indicted three local men in the aftermath of an Aug. 26 Southside Virginia Task Force raid in which marijuana with an estimated street value of $418,000 was confiscated.

The suspects are Roy Alconzia Rogers, 60, of South Hill; Timothy Stuart Caknipe, 48, of Chase City; and former Mecklenburg County chief building inspector William David Hash, 46, of Skipwith.

All three are charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 1/2 ounce but no more than 5 pounds of marijuana and with manufacturing or possessing marijuana.

Sheriff Danny Fox said yesterday that the eradication located small plot of land, owned by the suspects, where marijuana was growing. He said Rogers allegedly was growing 49 plants, Hash 45, and Caknipe 23.

Mecklenburg County Commonwealth’s attorney Nora Miller said yesterday that the investigation focused on the three suspects. No additional indictments are expected.

The county Board of Supervisors fired Hash at their Sept. 13 meeting.

County Administrator Wayne Carter said yesterday that Hash was terminated with cause and would receive no severance pay. His last day on the county payroll was Sept. 15.

According to Carter, the county hired Hash as a building inspector in 1997 and promoted him to chief building inspector several years later.

Hash has retained attorney Robert H. Morrison.

Rogers and Caknipe are scheduled to appear in Mecklenburg County Circuit Court on Oct. 1 for an attorney advisement hearing.

The drug task force that confiscated the marijuana plants and investigated the three cases consists of members of the town police forces, Sheriff’s Office, State Police and Virginia ABC.

Fox said the National Guard assisted and provided a helicopter for use in the eradication.